Berhampur: Violence against Dalits has been increasing in Ganjam district due to alleged inefficiency of police. Although the social backward community has been complaining about the torture and humiliation by upper castes, the police have remained silent. The Dalits said the police have been encouraging the evil practices of the upper castes.
Untouchables are feeling unsafe in areas like Aska, Sorada, Digapahandi and Dharakota in the district.
Sources said some upper caste men had attacked a group who were going to join a Dalit groom’s entourage at Gundiribadi in the Sorada block of this district.
In another incident, temple authorities of the same village had imposed a penalty of around Rs 1 lakh on an untouchable for contaminating the temple by entering it.
The Dalit association had lodged an FIR at the police station in both the cases, but the police did not take any action. The police are now exerting pressure on the complainants to withdraw the case.
The police also released an upper caste individual accused of murdering a Dalit as they could not find any proof at Kamaragad in Aska Police Station limits.
The Dalits of the district are facing violence for years now. Rapes, attacks and killings continue in the name of caste in many areas. The Dalits cannot even enter the dining area of upper castes here.
The Dalit-Adivasi Coordination Committee and the Akhil Bharat Kisan Majdur Organisation said at a press conference Thursday that they will hold a protest against this May 20.
PNN